Senator Edward J. Markey has raised concerns over the financial stability of Steward Health Care in Massachusetts, which is selling its physician group to Optum Care. The company operates nine health care facilities in the state and has been facing accumulated debt. Previously owned by Cerberus Capital Management, Steward made $800 million in profit from the sale.
Senator Markey believes that moving away from Steward’s financial instability is crucial for the Massachusetts healthcare system. He hopes that Optum Care will prioritize controlling costs and prioritizing patients and providers. The senator criticized the healthcare system for focusing more on profit than patient outcomes and advocates for healthcare reform to address these issues.
As chair of the Senate HELP Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, Senator Markey has invited Steward CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre to testify at a congressional hearing in Boston on April 3. For more information, contact the writer at SMorse@himss.org.
